Heirloom (Noun);

Something of special value handed down from one generation to another.

The Heirloom Network, powered by Provident1898

Heirloom (noun)

a precious possession passed down through generations within a family.

About The Heirloom Network

The Heirloom Network is the premium membership tier at Provident1898 designed exclusively for women founders, innovators, and business leaders.

We operate out of the historic, tower-standing headquarters of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the first Black-owned enterprise in America to reach a billion dollars in total insurance in force.

Anchored by the legacy of Viola G. Turner, who joined North Carolina Mutual in 1924. Turner relyed on structural capital management and deep community ecosystems to build a multi-million-dollar investment portfolio becoming the first woman elected to the company’s board of directors.

With our holistic model, we honor the whole woman behind the business pairing practical guidance with personal wellness, advising, and intentional spaces for connection. Through monthly gatherings, curated resources, and a community that understands the cultural realities of women in business, we help our members build not only profitable companies but also sustainable lives.

When you join Provident1898 under the Heirloom Membership, you aren’t just joining a desk; you are anchoring your business within a proven blueprint for institutional growth.

Meet Viola.

Financial Vice President

Viola Turner went from Macon, Georgia to the boardroom of NC Mutual Life Insurance, becoming the company’s first woman financial vice president. A Morris Brown College graduate, left a legacy that transformed American finance. Turner retired in 1965 after reshaping what was possible for Black women in leadership & finance.

As an Heirloom, she reminds that:

Our success is not individual. It is collective. It is generational. It is an heirloom passed down, waiting to be honored.

About The Heirloom Network

The Heirloom Network is the premium membership tier at Provident1898 designed exclusively for women founders, innovators, and business leaders.

We operate out of the historic, tower-standing headquarters of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the first Black-owned enterprise in America to reach a billion dollars in total insurance in force.

Anchored by the legacy of Viola G. Turner, who joined North Carolina Mutual in 1924. Turner relyed on structural capital management and deep community ecosystems to build a multi-million-dollar investment portfolio becoming the first woman elected to the company’s board of directors.

With our holistic model, we honor the whole woman behind the business pairing practical guidance with personal wellness, advising, and intentional spaces for connection. Through monthly gatherings, curated resources, and a community that understands the cultural realities of women in business, we help our members build not only profitable companies but also sustainable lives.

When you join Provident1898 under the Heirloom Membership, you aren’t just joining a desk; you are anchoring your business within a proven blueprint for institutional growth.

Meet Viola.

Financial Vice President

Viola Turner (1900–1988)

In 1924, Viola Turner walked into Durham’s North Carolina Mutual headquarters. Four decades later, she was managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio as the first woman on their board of directors.

She proved that long term success isn’t built on individual grind but institutional strategy. The Heirloom Network exists to teach you that strategy.

As an heirloom, her legacy reminds us:

Our success is not individual. It is collective. It is generational. It is an inheritance. Waiting to be honored.

The Turner Method

Strategic Stewardship

We teach you how to analyze your business metrics like a fund manager. You will learn to optimize your cash flow, allocate resources for sustainable scale, and transition from a stressed operator to a strategic executive.

Visibility

We move you past the noise of social media algorithms and into high-leverage authority positioning. Learn how to package your intellectual property, command industry spaces, and put your business on the radar of investors and institutional buyers.

Institutional Literacy

We break down the invisible barriers to enterprise growth. Through this pillar, you gain the tactical playbooks needed to secure corporate contracts, position your company for institutional partnerships, and master procurement processes that change your revenue baseline.

Collective Infrastructure

We operationalize the peer network. This isn’t generic networking; it is a structured commerce ecosystem. Members of The Heirloom Network intentionally trade resources, form strategic alliances, share insider market intelligence, and actively patronize one another’s enterprises to build collective economic resilience.

Industry Leaders. Your Advisors.

LaTasha Best-Gaddy

Chief Strategist of Infinity Bridges 

La-Tasha Best-Gaddy is the Chief Strategist at Infinity Bridges Inc., bringing over 25 years of experience across economic and business development, financial services, insurance, and the nonprofit sector. A dedicated entrepreneur and community advocate, she serves on several regional boards and committees, including leadership roles with the Black Business Alliance of Chapel Hill- Carrboro, Durham Business Collaboration, and the NC Employee Ownership Center.

Frank Pollock

Chief Marketing Office of Home Lending Pal

Part brand whisperer, part startup surgeon, Frank is the guy people call when they want the real work done. He’s taken on giants in fintech, turned skilled trades into a calling card, and built marketing engines that actually move money. He’s got the CPG polish of a Colgate vet, the operator grit of a SaaS CMO, and the heart of a teacher—whether it’s guiding students at Duke or helping veterans at Bunker Labs turn big ideas into real businesses.

Jason Nelson

Founder & Principal of Apollus Solutions

Jason helps small business owners thrive by providing expert bookkeeping, accounting, back-office management, and strategic guidance. As a trusted advisor, Jason works alongside C-level executives to streamline day-to-day operations and ensure financial well-being.

His experience spans various industries, including life sciences, professional services, and nonprofits. Jason empowers clients to make data-driven decisions and achieve their lifestyle business goals by leveraging his accounting and bookkeeping expertise.

Larry Long Jr.

 Business Consultant

Larry Long is an experienced venture capital and financial analyst with expertise in due diligence, market research, and financial modeling for early-stage startups. He currently serves as a Contract Analyst for Resilient Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in African American founders, and is a participant in VC University, a joint educational initiative by NVCA, Venture Forward, and Berkeley Law.

Previously, Larry spent eight years as a Research Analyst at The Launch Place, supporting investments and helping small businesses secure capital. An entrepreneur at heart, he has also founded several family-owned businesses.

Your

Membership

As an Heirloom Member, you gather in the literal rooms where Turner brokered enterprise deals to study her exact playbook and apply it directly to your current business model.

Begin Your Heirloom Advising Journey.

Your first session is designed to help us understand where you are, review your Abaca Assessment results, and establish a clear baseline for your advising experience. Please complete your purchase and Abaca Assessment before booking.

Upcoming Events

Right Place, Right Time.

The moments that matter are waiting for you. Join us at our upcoming events and make lasting connections.

 

Durham Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Mixer

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